09/03/2025
Do you tend to ruminate or review your to-do list, worries, questions, grievances, what-ifs in your head alllll day? It still amazes me how much we hold in our heads that affects the rest of our body and mood.
Do you tend to furrow your brow when you're thinking, concentrating, straining 😉? Your scalp is probably restricted around the temples and leading to tension headaches. Or the scalp tissue at the top of the head has limited mobility.
Do you keep your mouth tightly shut, maybe somewhat frowning? You may have restriction under the jaw in the sublingual space, which leads down the front of neck and wrapping around to the back of the ears.
What about you jaw clenchers? I'm guessing you have ear pressure changes and tight tissue all around the ears.
And if you tend to hold your head in extension while looking at a screen your occiput is likely being held hostage.
So, what to do? First, check the mobility of your scalp tissue. Using the flat pads of your fingers gently try to move the scalp back and forth, front to back, or even in circles. If the scalp doesn't want to move a certain direction (to the right, let's say), **keep pushing it to the right** and slackening the tissue. Sounds counterintuitive yet allowing the tissue to slacken in order to reorganize is what will help soften it.
You could move the scalp in small gentle circles creating a rehydration effect. If fluid can't move through your tissue the result feels like it's glued down and immobile. Headaches, fogginess, irritability ensue.
I have solved my own back pain by working on my scalp. Give your head some love. It does a lot for you and it's so often overlooked in self-care. For me, it's my go-to at some point during each massage.
